Longevity States

There are many ways in which we can maintain our health and live long, happy lives. Regular exercise and sleeping well are excellent ways of preventing illness. Even when we get sick, returning to full health has never been easier, with medication accessible through a pharmacy online. However, where you live can have an impact on your life expectancy.

Some areas around the world are known for having healthy and long-lived residents. These areas have lower rates of chronic disease and much higher life expectancies.

These five areas share common lifestyle features: diet, exercise, and sleep. But which US states mirror these healthy living standards the most?

We wanted to know which states are most likely to be home to these health-focused communities. To find out, we’ve looked at mental health, diet, exercise, religion, meat-free diets, sleep, and life expectancy to reveal the healthiest states.

Californians have the most potential to live the longest, with a score of 7.03/10

We’ve looked at sleep, stress, activity, population density, religiosity, and meat-free diets in each state to reveal the states with the most potential for long, healthy lives.

The least depressed state in the US is South Dakota, with 24.0% of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder

Anxiety and depression are contributing factors to early death, so we’ve identified the US states with the lowest prevalence of both conditions.

Alabama and Mississippi are the most religious states, with 77.0% of adults following a religion

Spirituality and religious involvement are often found in communities with a lower risk of death. This is believed to be due to higher social support and a reduced rate of depression.

The most active state is Colorado, with just less than 18.0% of the population physically inactive

Physical activity is a crucial component of a long and happy life. In many of the world’s healthiest communities, exercise often isn’t a planned activity. Instead, it’s something that exists in people’s daily lives through daily chores, gardening, and cooking.

People in South Dakota get the most sleep, with 71.6% of its population sleeping for more than 7 hours

Adequate sleep is widely recognized as another crucial factor for maintaining good health and longevity. The recommended amount of sleep each night is seven hours, which can significantly reduce your risk of death. To reveal the states with the best sleepers, we’ve found the percentage of each state’s population getting at least seven hours of sleep.

Rhode Island is the most densely populated state in the country, with over 1,000 people per square mile

Being part of a community and having a healthy social network are also recognised as significant factors in promoting health and longevity. That’s why we looked into population density across the United States.

Meat-free diets are more common in Hawaii than in any other US state, with over 4,000 searches for vegan and vegetarian restaurants per 100,000 people

More and more people are reducing their intake of animal products like eggs, fish, and dairy, advocating for a predominantly plant-based diet. This shift aligns with patterns observed in some of the world’s healthiest communities. This is why we’ve delved into Google search data to determine which states searched for meat-free restaurants the most.

Hawaiians live longer than people from any other state, with a life expectancy of 80.7 years

Finally, we’ve looked at the life expectancy of each US state as an overall indicator of the healthiest places, where people are likely to live the longest.

The states likely to live the longest

1. California

7.03

life expectancy score

Taking the top spot is California, with a life expectancy score of 7.03 out of 10. Plant-based living is very popular in the Golden State, with 2,779 searches per 100,000 people for meat-free restaurants. The state also has one of the highest life expectancies in the country at 79.

2. Minnesota

6.70

life expectancy score

Minnesota takes second place with a life expectancy score of 6.70 out of 10. Despite having fewer vegans and religious people than most US states, Minnesotans live long lives with plenty of sleep, exercise, and very little stress.

3. Utah

6.58

life expectancy score

Completing our top three is Utah, with a life expectancy score of 6.58 out of 10. People in Utah are religious and get plenty of sleep and exercise. They also have a higher life expectancy than most states in the US.

Key: % of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder % of adults that are religious % of adults physically inactive % of people getting at least 7 hours of sleep Population density number of people per square mile Number of searches for meat-free restaurants per 100,000 people Life expectancy Life Expectancy Score

	State

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 least depressed states

1. South Dakota

24.0%

of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder

South Dakota takes the top spot, with less than a quarter of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder. Whether you are a millennial or a retiree, South Dakota is one of the most friendly states in the US. Spending time outdoors and embracing the natural beauty is a great way of improving your mood, and The Missouri River and Badlands National Park are two great places to do this.

2. South Carolina

25.1%

of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder

South Carolina has the second lowest rate of anxiety and depressive disorder in the United States at 25.1%. People here have a lot to be happy about, from the warm weather and sandy beaches to the vibrant cuisine, which ranges from locally-grown fresh fruit to slow-cooked barbecues.

3. Delaware & Wisconsin

26.3%

of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder

Delaware and Wisconsin complete our top three, with 26.3% of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder. Delaware is considered one of the best places to retire, with good weather, low taxes, and stunning natural beauty. Wisconsin is also a great place to retire with friendly people and an abundance of lakes to enjoy. It’s also an ideal choice financially, with a cheaper cost of living than the US average.

	State	Percentage of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 most religious states

1. Alabama

77.0%

of adults are religious

Alabama and Mississippi share the top spot, with 77.0% of adults following a religion in these two states. In Alabama, the main religion is Christianity, followed by 86.0% of the religious population, with Protestantism being the main denomination of Christianity, followed by 78.0% of the Christian population.

1. Mississippi

77.0%

of adults are religious

Mississippi has slightly fewer Christians, with 83.0% of the religious population following Christianity. Protestantism is again the main denomination of Christianity, followed by 77.0% of the Christian population.

3. Tennessee

73.0%

of adults are religious

In Tennessee, Christianity is followed by approximately 81.0% of the religious population, with 73.0% of this Christian population identifying as Protestants. Just over half of the Protestant population is made up of Evangelical Protestants, which is the most common denomination of Protestantism. Overall, 73.0% of Tennessee’s population is religious, taking third place on our list.

	State	Percentage of adults that are religious

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 least inactive states

1. Colorado

17.7%

of adults are physically inactive

Taking the top spot is Colorado, with 17.7% of its population physically inactive outside their jobs. Colorado is a state that is spoiled with hiking trails, national and state parks, and boundless natural beauty. Colorado also has one of the lowest obesity rates in the country, which could be linked to the sheer amount of outdoor activities on offer.

2. Utah

18.2%

of adults are physically inactive

Colorado’s neighbor, Utah, takes second place, with 18.2% of its population physically inactive outside their jobs. Utah is also home to gorgeous scenery, making the national parks and hiking trails a joy to explore.

3. Washington

18.4%

of adults are physically inactive

Washington completes our top three, with 18.4% of adults physically inactive outside their jobs. Washington also has one of the lowest obesity rates in the country, proving just how active people here are. Whether you’re interested in walking, cycling, or kayaking, Washington has many trails for you to enjoy.

	State	Percentage of adults physically inactive

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 states getting the most sleep

1. South Dakota

71.6%

of the population gets more than seven hours of sleep

South Dakota takes the top spot in our list, with 71.6% of the population getting at least seven hours of sleep. South Dakota is one of the most rural states in America, and this may be positively affecting the sleep quality of this state.

2. Colorado

71.5%

of the population gets more than seven hours of sleep

Narrowly behind in second place, just 0.1% off the top spot, is Colorado, with 71.5% of its population getting more than seven hours of sleep. As one of the most active states in the US, Coloradans need their rest.

3. Minnesota

70.8%

of the population gets more than seven hours of sleep

Minnesota completes our top three, with 70.8% of the population getting more than seven hours of sleep. Minnesota has a large farming population, likely benefiting their rest due to the higher activity levels.

	State	Percentage of people getting at least 7 hours of sleep

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 most densely populated states in the US

1. Rhode Island

1,074.30

Number of people per square mile

In first place is Rhode Island, with 1,074.30 people per square mile. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US in terms of total area, which is 1,545 square miles. However, its population of over one million people is only the fifth lowest in America, explaining its high population density and ranking on our list.

2. Massachusetts

919.82

Number of people per square mile

In second place is Massachusetts , with 919.82 people per square mile. Massachusetts has one of the smallest total areas in the US, at 10,554 square miles. However, its population is around seven million people, which is in the top 20 in America.

3. Connecticut

746.70

Number of people per square mile

Completing our top three is Connecticut, with 746.70 people per square mile. In terms of total area, Connecticut is one of the smallest at just over 550 square miles. Only Rhode Island and Delaware are smaller. Connecticut’s population of more than 3.5 million people is in the top 30 US states.

	State	Number of people per square mile

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 states with the most searches for meat-free restaurants

1. Hawaii

4,284

Searches for meat-free restaurants per 100,000 people

Taking the top spot is Hawaii, with over 4,000 searches for meat-free places to eat per 100,000 people. Traditionally, Hawaiian cuisine consists of lots of seafood and other animal products. However, the volcanic soil in the 50th state makes it an ideal place for growing a wide range of fruits and vegetables.

2. Nevada

3,752

Searches for meat-free restaurants per 100,000 people

In second place is Nevada, with 3,752 searches for meat-free places to eat per 100,000 people. Due to the number of tourists Nevada attracts, the cuisine here is generally quite diverse. However, most of the food Nevada is famous for consists of meat.

3. Oregon

3,052

Searches for meat-free restaurants per 100,000 people

Our top three is completed by Oregon, with just over 3,000 searches for meat-free places to eat per 100,000 people. The most populous city in Oregon, Portland, is considered to be one of the most vegan-friendly cities in America, with a strong vegan community.

	State	Number of searches for meat-free restaurants per 100,000 people

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

The top 10 US states with the highest life expectancy

1. Hawaii

80.7

years life expectancy

Taking the top spot is Hawaii, with a life expectancy of 80.7 years. One of the main reasons Hawaiians have a high life expectancy is due to the weather. The 50th state gets sunshine all year round, which means the residents here get a large amount of vitamin D, an essential nutrient for good health.

2. Washington

79.2

years life expectancy

In second place is Washington, with a life expectancy of 79.2 years. The capital of America also has a life expectancy of two years above the national average. Interestingly, in just one year, Washington’s life expectancy went from the 9th highest in America to the 2nd highest.

3. Minnesota

79.1

years life expectancy

Our top three is completed by Minnesota, with a life expectancy of 79.1 years. Minnesota only narrowly takes third place, just 0.1 years behind Washington. Not only do Minnesotans live longer than most states, they also have healthier lives than most, with a healthy life expectancy of just over 79 years.

	State	Life expectancy

Note: States with the same score share the same ranking

Show more +

Methodology

We used Becker's Hospital Review to get the percentage of adults reporting anxiety or depressive disorder.

We used CDC for the prevalence of physical inactivity and the life expectancy

We used World Population Review for the most religious states as well as the population for each state.

We used Nap Lab to get the percentage of people getting at least seven hours of sleep.

We used Wisevoter to get the population density.

Finally, we used Google Keyword Planner to find the number of searches per state for “Vegan places to eat near me” and “Vegetarian places to eat near me”. Due to similar search terms, the results were already combined as the results were the same for both search terms. Therefore, we took the results for just one of the search terms. We then calculated the number of searches per 100,000 people.

The District of Columbia and New Jersey were removed due to insufficient data.

We put this data into a weighted table, giving each factor a normalized score out of 10. We then took an average of these factors to give each state a life expectancy score.